How many jobs can you be? You can be quiet for three months, wondering where the next job is coming from, and then suddenly, within a couple of weeks, you can pull back all that money you didn’t earn during the quieter period. That’s one of the trade-offs of working for yourself in the trades

One of the brothers behind a family-run plumbing business talks about working in Malvern and the unique challenges that come with maintaining plumbing systems in listed and historic properties. Working on older homes and listed buildings can be a completely different world compared with modern p

A young plasterer and business owner gets a wake-up call from an older joiner who is absolutely smashing it with technology to run his trade business. 📱💻 It just goes to show that technology, digital tools, business systems and social media aren’t just for the younger generation. Experienced tra

You can get everything you want in life — but you’re going to have to work for it. Success doesn’t just happen. Whether you’re building a plumbing and heating business, becoming an electrician, starting your own trade business, learning a skill, building a career or simply trying to create a bet

Can a new boiler installation really be done properly in just one day? 🔥 A younger plumbing and heating business owner raises an interesting question: when a boiler replacement is completed within a day, is there genuinely enough time to do everything properly? A professional boiler installat

Talking to Pointer Plumber about InstallerSHOW heading back to Birmingham’s Custard Factory — taking it back to one of its original Birmingham venues. Nostalgia!

Passing your commercial plumbing and heating exams is only the beginning. As this experienced commercial plumbing and heating engineer explains, getting the qualification doesn’t automatically mean you understand how commercial heating and plumbing systems actually work. You need to understand t

AI, ChatGPT and the future of technology are becoming bigger talking points across the heating and plumbing trade. In the Banter Van, we got talking about how far artificial intelligence could actually go. We can already ask ChatGPT questions, create content, solve problems and interact with techno

Why will someone happily spend £10,000, £15,000 or even £20,000 on a new bathroom, but question the cost of the boiler that actually makes the whole system work? The boiler is often just seen as a white box sitting in the corner. It doesn’t look exciting. It doesn’t transform the appearance of t

33 years in the plumbing and heating trade deserves recognition. 🛠️ Years of early mornings, long days, awkward positions, heavy tools, crawling into spaces most people wouldn’t want to enter and solving problems when the customer needs you most. But after more than three decades, the body st

An experienced electrician talks about how much the world of work has changed. University isn’t the only route to a successful career, and for many young people, the skilled trades can offer a genuine opportunity to build a good income and a long-term career. Electricians, heating engineers, plu

A heating and plumbing business owner who has worked hard, challenged the system and refused to be held back. His determination, ambition and ability to see the bigger picture have opened doors that many never reach. Proof that hard work, persistence and a clear vision can take you a long way in th

Talking air conditioning with Dave Ellis from Kane Analysers… because apparently heating engineers need to stay cool too! A bit of air con trade banter, laughs and plenty of HVAC chat.

Warriors of Warmth organiser Jonathan Hallam reflects on nine years of charity work and thanks the manufacturers, merchants, tradespeople, sponsors and supporters who have made it possible. From donating materials and products to giving their time, skills and labour, the heating and plumbing indust

Is the old-school attitude towards women in the trades finally dead? There are more women entering plumbing, heating, electrical, construction and other skilled trades than ever before. But do the younger generation even understand how different things used to be? For those of us who remember

Running a successful plumbing and heating business isn’t just about being good on the tools. Sometimes, the person keeping everything together is behind the scenes. This plumbing and heating business owner has something incredibly valuable: complete trust in his office manager, Fiona — his mo

Plumbers smell it. They see it. They find the problem — water coming through the ceiling, damp, leaks and all the warning signs that something has gone wrong. Electricians? They can literally feel it. ⚡ A fault in an electrical system can give you a very different kind of warning — one you de

Ken Suzuki, inventor and entrepreneur behind the Twisticator, came up with the idea from a very unexpected DIY problem. Trying to help his mother-in-law use a standard sealant gun, Ken asked her to lean against the gun to help push out the silicone. Unfortunately, the pressure caused a bruise —

From golf professional to training adults for the trades — there’s an interesting story behind the career change. Speaking to one of the managers at Smart Energy, he explains what life was like as a golf professional and how much time he spent away from home. It sparked an interesting comparison